Maryland should make penalties fit the crimes

79-year-old Roy Love is killed and his 75-year-old wife, Helene Love, is critically injured when they attempted to cross Route 1 on July Fourth. According to The Daily Times, this couple was hit by Matthew O'Connor. O'Connor pleaded guilty to Driving Under the Influence, and was fined and placed in the First Offense Election program.

There was no prosecutor present during the trial, which was heard in the Delaware Justice of the Peace Court.

Was justice served here? O'Connor received a slap on the wrist for killing one person and critically injuring another. If it had been a vehicular homicide in the second degree; it would be a class F felony. The minimum sentence for a guilty verdict is one year.

The story appearing below the fatal DUI article pictures three men who were face multiple drug charges for suspected possession of seven kilograms of cocaine. A conviction for cocaine possession in Maryland has a maximum penalty of four years in prison, whereas, there is a five-year minimum conviction for trafficking cocaine.

Through reasonable deduction, if these men are found guilty, they will be incarcerated for a long time.

Our criminal justice system needs to evaluate alcohol and drug law enforcement, and make the penalty for convicted offenders fit the crime. Remember, there are lifelong effects of a felony conviction after the sentence has been served. Felons face housing and work discrimination, voting restriction and ineligibility for food stamps.